Salesforce QTC are the usual suspects at our campus and this time we have thrown a new challenge to them, which is to build a hut for nursery plants. This assignment involves both mental and physical work. It requires to tickle the grey cells to come up with optimal dimensions for the hut. Though the location was chosen by the expert committee at the campus, the planning and execution was a combined effort of Salesforce QTC and Anjana.

Stage 1:

Identify the right baboo

Trim the projects

Transport to the location through human chain

Dig pits to drop the cement poles.

Place the supporting poles at appropriate location/distance and

Tie the bamboo to the poles

Prepare the structure.

Salesforce steam had to pause for stage 2 and post lunch they induled in the usual tasks of spending time with the motherless calf and attended to mundane tasks related to cow farm and spending time with the veggies.

No it is not Fake news. Salesforcebelieves in work hard and hāʻawing hard.

hāʻawi: giving in hawaiian language.

Yes Salesforce was hāʻawiing on a bright Tuesday morning at one of their favorite volunteering spot. Mentoring, engaging kids through sports, framing, cryptographyall happening @ one place.

Bitcoin, cryptocurrency etc. are the buzzwords and salesforce gave a glimpse of the same to our students.

Composite move: Salesforce do get their hands dirty in coding, this time they got dirt on their hands with organic farming. Maneuvering manure on a 4-wheel Push-Kart was the highlight. Digging their way through the pile of composite, transporting to the kart though human chain and getting to the the bed for the veggies, all happening in synchronously. Curious, take a look at the pictures.

Sowing time: Getting the farming bed ready for sowing. This Salesforce is doing it for the 3rd time and now they have got the idea on how it works.

Another milestone by Salesforce QTC team and this time on Guru Nanak Jayanti. Last time when they were here it was Diwali with plants and this time Guru Nanak Jayanti with Guru’s and Children. On this auspicious day, Salesforce QTC Volunteering team spend time with 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade kids in giving them “Gyan” on real life experiences and how one has to deal with challenges that are not taught in class room but faced by them in real life.

Engaging with Kids: There is nothing noble than donating time for the education of a child and I am very grateful for Salesforce team engaging kids and giving them a different perspective of real world scenarios.

Learning by doing: The new New science Lab was inaugurated with the support of Global spirit and TCS. On the day of inauguration, Gurus and Children demonstrated one chemical reaction and coule of physics demonstrations.

Organic Farming: After a day long with budding flowers, the children of Anjana, Salesforce QTC team shifted gears to budding seedlings. They wanted to get their hands dirty and they have got what they have asked for. This time they planted cabbage and chilli seedlings/saplings.

Diwali Organic Farming Status: Efforts put in by Salesforce QTC during their last volunteering has started bearing fruits or veggies. Below images show the growth on the organic beds worked upon by the Salesforce QTC team.

Another milestone for Anjana Kendra and Salesforce together and many more to come.

Salesforce QTC India arm celebrated their Diwali ’17 with a blast minus the noise & air pollution. Motivated team of Salesforce QTC engaged themselves by volunteering @ our wonderful place called Anjana Vidya Kendra, which is tucked away from hustle and bustle of the “Namma” Bengaluru. A picture speaks 1000 words, hence, I put down the pen and draw your attention to the pictures below:

Plantation the Organic way: Shovel Earth, lay dry composite, fill Earth again to make a bed (imagine composite is sandwiched between earth) , choose symbiotic veggies and sow the seeds.

Home made Pharma: Treating plants with organic pesticides by spraying organic insect repellent called AA (Agni Astra, its a secret recipe and if you want to know, come join us)

Grass cutting with crass (fodder for cows): Mother cow has been serving us since our childhood and it was a golden opportunity to serve her once. It was not easy to cut simple looking long grass. There is a technique which our expert Mr. Amresh taught the Salesforce team.

Website development: Talentend QTC team spent good amount of time to bring our school/organization website up-to speed. They ensured to updated the blogs and also revamped the website with latest templates to give our official website a boost. As on going process Salesforce QTC team is going to enhance the website by adding more features. Stay tuned.

Feeding Calf: Salesforce QTC team had heartfelt experience while feeding the motherless calf. I urge all the readers to rethink and go VEGAN to save these motherless calf ending up here, being fed by humans, instead being fed by their mother cow.

Master Chef – Village Guttahalli: Cooked delicious food using organically grown veggies from Brahmi organic farm + lot of salesforce spices brought the best of cooking. At the end it was finger licking cuisines that was served to all.

All-in-all it was soulful & amazing experience where in Salesforce and Brahmi have engaged and learnt each other organizations culture & values. Salesforce QTC team had first hand experience in organic farming that they have learnt various steps involved in organic farming. It also helped them to understand how various species in our environment help to sustain the growth of flora & fauna, local issues related to child educations and how Brahmi is making an impact in many children’s lives.

Simply “Joyful” is how one would describe the months of August and September at Anjana. It is a wonder how children switched from one program to the other and how teachers were able to train them. In addition, each event was special and celebrated in a unique fashion in several locations of the school (playground, Prayer Hall or Amphitheater), some times in more than one place; chants for Varalakshmi Festival, Dances and singing for Krihsna Janmastami, Drills and Skits during Independence Day and making and worshipping Eco frindly idol of Ganesha during Ganesha Chaturthi (August festivals) AND entire campus filled with Pookolams and dances for Onam , sports and fun games for the staff during Teacher’s Day , children presenting Hindi Day, Homa and Chants for the 9 Days of Durga Pooja (all in September). This is not all – Our primary and high school children participated in District level sports meets with two of them finding a place to compete at state level, Primary children coming up with monthly cultural events coinciding with Dussera celebrations and a ToT program for the teachers conducted by Salesforce Team prior to Durgapooja celebrations and visit of Sri. Srinivas Palepu, Yoga Teacher and Parvrajak monk from Sivananda group. Teachers and students tell me I have (unfortunately) missed several interesting talks and weekend personality development programs by Sri. Shiva and Prayas team from Delphi conducted on Saturdays. Too much for a visitor/parent/patron to participate in all these events but for children and staff all these events have helped to showcase their talents and express their joy and hapiness celebrating India’s diversity!

October has kicked in starting with Gandhi & Shastri Jayanthi. Children would get to celebrate Jayanthi’s of Valmiki, Kannada Poets DVG and Karanth and the same time would write their half -yearly exams. As a grand finale to the successful completion of the first half of the academic year, team Anjana would adjourn for a 10-day Mid-term vacation from 12th October. They will arrive on 23rd October to celebrate Gratitude Day to mark the birthday of our patron late Sri. K.T. Narayan (Premanjali Trust). The week will be celebrated as Food-Week with several events and workshops highlighting importance of food and nutrition to children and parents. We look forward to the visits of our food-partners Team Premanjali and Team Manish & Volunteers from Intel and other groups to make these events meaningful.

It may be noted, all these celebrations have taken place amidst regular school days, without majorly disturbing the academic programs. Kudos to the team of teachers headed by young and energetic Sujay and the ever-ready-to-help and ever-smiling kitchen, support team and the team of volunteers. All visitors to the school and parents participating in any of these events have enjoyed our food and hospitality.

Enjoy scrolling down to view some of these events in pictures and videos.

Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima was celebrated with zeal and traditional fervour on Saturday, 8th June (instead of 9th Sunday). Guided by our music Teacher Anantaraman, Children chanted Adi Shankara’s Gurupaduka Stotram and a chant known as a stress releiver – toTakAShTakam (8 verses in praise of Adi Shankara). Children showcased a skit to highligh gurukul system of education (directed by our Hindi Teacher Amritaraj).